When San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch anointed Brock Purdy the “leader in the clubhouse” to win the team’s starting quarterback job, he perhaps unknowingly hung a “for sale” sign on former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance.
While the 49ers have been adamant that Lance isn’t going anywhere, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday morning that several teams are inquiring about his availability.
The odds of the 49ers parting with Lance are slim, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Purdy’s recovery from elbow surgery, but if he were made available, here are three potential destinations that make sense:
Reports seem to indicate that Houston isn’t sold on Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick. So should the Carolina Panthers grab Bryce Young No. 1 overall, the Texans could either take an edge rusher with their pick or trade back and acquire more draft capital.
While there is sure to be a learning curve with a rookie quarterback, Lance at least has two years in Kyle Shanahan’s system, putting him a step ahead of whoever Houston would potentially draft. Trading for Lance would probably cost the Texans their second-round pick, but they have two first-rounders this year. Houston could potentially take Tyree Wilson or Will Anderson with the No. 2 pick, whoever the highest-rated receiver is on their board with the No. 12 pick, and the No. 33 pick to acquire Lance.
Minnesota Vikings
Many draft experts have dubbed the Vikings as a potential landing spot for University of Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker with the No. 23 pick in the draft. But after sitting for a year behind Kirk Cousins, Hooker would be 26 by the time he would be ready to start, and Lance turns 23 next month.
Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson are in their primes and having a quarterback with a rocket arm who’s explosive, can create something out of nothing and can throw on the run is a great way to maximize the talent Minnesota has. Not to mention head coach Kevin O’Connell was a former quarterback, so who better to mentor Lance for a year and groom him to start in 2024?
Tennessee Titans
The dots almost connect themselves with this one. The Titans need a quarterback for 2024 and beyond, first-year general manager Ran Carthon spent years in San Francisco and he knows what Lance is capable of more so than any other executive outside of Santa Clara.
Many draft experts believe the Titans could trade up into the top 10 for either Kentucky’s Will Levis or Florida’s Anthony Richardson, but such a move would eat into the team’s limited amount of draft capital. Lance would likely cost a second-rounder, and Tennessee could use the No. 11 overall pick on an offensive lineman, receiver or edge rusher and still head into Round 3 with a new QB to develop for 2024.
Longshots: Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
